Recognising children in Togo

Here in the United Kingdom, registering a birth is a task all new parents must complete. In Togo, however, a survey Plan conducted last year revealed that 70% of babies do not receive a birth certificate.

Liba Taylor

There are many reasons why births go unregistered in Togo. Although it is 'free' for the first 30 days after a baby is born, the official stamp and paper certificate still costs about one US dollar. Even this small amount is too costly for many parents. Koumealo, a 12-year-old girl told us, "I don't have a birth certificate because my parents could not afford to pay for one." Other parents do not have the means to travel to the relevant government office, as a child in Bago explained, "I don't have a birth certificate because the registry office is 15 kilometres from our village."

Generally, parents do not understand the importance of a birth certificate. Toyi, ten, revealed, "My father used it to roll a cigarette." Many have never been told how to register their new baby. Some are afraid of unfamiliar situations; as another boy said, "My father is scared of law courts and government officials."

In some communities, a child only bears his or her father's name once a dowry has been paid and all traditional rituals requested by the in-laws have been completed. Sometimes, this is too expensive for fathers, so the child remains unregistered. This is what happened to Sika, 13. "My mother is a single parent. My grandparents won't register me until my father pays her dowry."

The high rate of infant mortality is another factor. "None of my seven brothers and sisters has a birth certificate," said Yawa, 11. "Our parents decided not to register until we're older, as they don't want to waste time and money registering babies who might die at any moment."

Plan Togo is working to make parents aware of the benefits of registering their children, so that demand for the service increases. Together with the government and communities, we are encouraging the introduction of more effective and accessible systems. As a result, since 2002, 35,000 children without certificates have now been registered. We hope to install registration centres in all the communities where we work so that children can receive their certificates at birth.

Communities themselves are following up birth registration and establishing and runnung mobie registration centres. Their involvement is fundamental.

Plan hopes that one day all children in Togo will have birth certificates, and with them the right to go to school, take exams, get a passport, marry, claim their inheritance, vote, be elected for office and own property.